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Successful Victorian Christmas Market gives Banbury’s businesses a boost
28/11/2022
Thousands of people visited the town during the three-day event
Banbury’s first ever Victorian Christmas Market has been declared a huge success. Thousands of people visited the town during the three-day event, bringing much needed trade to local retailers.
In Banbury Market Place and Bridge Street 130 stalls offered a range of gifts, food and drink. Fairground rides and entertainers and traders dressed in Victorian costumes added to the atmosphere and a chance to meet Father Christmas and his reindeer proved a popular attraction for youngsters outside Banbury Town Hall.
The Victorian Christmas Market was organised by Banbury BID. Strategist Jasmine Gilhooly said: “It was an absolutely fantastic success. It was tremendous to see the amount of people from the Banbury community support the town centre, support the businesses and support the market.”
Official visitor numbers are not yet available, but many town centre car parks were full and its anticipated that the event drew in many thousands of people.
Jasmine said: “We had contact with two coach companies that brought in coach loads of people from Guildford and Kent. I’ve followed up with them and had really positive feedback of not only the market but how beautiful Banbury town centre is and how that they would love to return on another occasion.”
Some local retailers have given the BID team positive feedback on the weekend. One of the market traders told Jasmine that Saturday had been her best trading day anywhere.
Many people chose to stay and enjoy the town centre evening hospitality, boosting the night time economy. Jasmine said: “I had a walk around yesterday evening and from looking through the windows of pubs it was packed everywhere. That was really good to see.”
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The Banbury BID team consists of four people, all of whom have worked hard over the last few months to organise the Victorian Christmas Market. The success of the weekend has been a huge boost for them.
In the weeks ahead the BID team are once again organising a Christmas Lantern Parade. This will process around the town centre on December 10. The BID is also supporting this year’s RC Baker Christmas Tractor Run, which will visit Banbury for the first time on December 17.
Banbury BID is funded by local businesses. Its current term runs out at the end of next March and during February the businesses will decide if the BID will run for another five-year term. Future events, including a Victorian Christmas Market for next year, will be dependent on that decision.
Jasmine said: “We have to remember that money that funds the bid is essentially hard-earned money coming from businesses tills, and in theory that comes from the community spending in them. We have to work very closely with the businesses to respond to what they envisage their town centre looking like.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam
Delphine Hewitt On 28/11/2022 at 2:35 pm
I live in Solihull and came with my daughter to the market. I thought it was very impressive and I had a lovely day. Well done.
Paul On 28/11/2022 at 6:02 pm
Congratulations to all involved. The traders, the people of Banbury, organisers and the BID team. Take a bow